Beautiful choice

Confidential’s very own Lynda Moyo tells us why she wants to be part of Miss Manchester 2007

‘Mummy, when I grow up I want to be Miss World. I want to be tall and beautiful with long flowing locks. I want there to be flash bulbs exploding everywhere when I flash my white perfectly aligned teeth. I want to spread the word of World Peace, GHDs and dream matt mousse foundation.’

When I tell people I’m in the final of Miss Manchester 2007, there’re mixed reactions of ‘you go girl’ and sarcastic raucous laughter. Whilst easy on the eye and harmless fun to some, beauty pageants are plagued with a stigma that the tiara crowned, bikini clad babes are nothing more than that.

Slated as the objectification of women, beauty pageants have always been frowned upon by feminists. This loathing was first brought to light in a high profile protest at the 1968 Miss America beauty contest. Feminist protesters set off stink bombs and sang, ‘Ain't she sweet making profits off her meat.’ Likening beauty pageant contestants to good old Frank the butcher. Well I never.

Feminist arguments against beauty pageants are obvious. Parading on the catwalk (or conveyor belt- whichever you prefer) girls are judged mainly on their physical appearance. The feminist movement was about empowering women to make whatever choice they wanted to. If that choice for some women is parading around in bikinis in beauty pageants, then so be it.

The truth of the matter is that every competition, of every kind values certain qualities over others. Maybe there is a chance that we can give a prize to a beautiful woman for her beauty without implying that beauty is all that matters. Wanting to be perceived as attractive is no great sin. The truth is beauty is subjective. One person’s Kate Moss is another’s Queen Latifa.

I’m not size zero and I’m not stupid. And should I go on to win, I think I would be a realistic role model for women. I’m entering because I can and because I feel I should. I write for the ‘voice of Manchester’ so why not compete for the ‘face of Manchester.’ Tiara’s and sashes aside, as an entrant I resent the fact that being young, fit and healthy has to mean you’re dumb. God forbid there be some beauty pageant contestants that aren’t the stereotyped bimbos. So until I’m too old to enter such pageants (erm that’ll be next year then at the ripe old age of 25) I will enter. And if I don’t win Miss Manchester, I will happily carry on being Miss Manchester…Confidential.

The grand final of Miss Manchester takes place at the Palace Hotel on Thursday 3 May. Whether you want to see a bevy of beauties strutting down a catwalk in their smalls, or a bunch of articulate, confident young women representing their city, tickets are available here

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I think Fred needs to get his knuckles out of the mud and learn to judge women as people and not objects or figures to ridicule.In fact Fred , you sound like a complete t**t to me! I know Lynda professionally and can vouch for the fact that she is in possession of a brain which is obviously several 'cup sizes' bigger than Fred's, she is also absolutely capable in the beauty and ..ahem!..physical requirements to win this competition. So good luck Lynda - brains, beauty and a personality to match! Let shope the judges ar brighter and slightly more intelligent than Fred. As

One of the great obstacles in the path of equality is stereotyping (gender, racial or whatever). This means assuming that all women (for example) have certain typical qualities when in reality individual differences often outweigh any inherent gender differences that may exist but are often much slighter than popular culture suggests. Think of the technical-minded, logical tomboy woman who gets tarred with the same brush as the sex kitten. Unfortunately our minds use so-called 'schemas' (social psychology speak) to make sense of the world which includes thinking about people in simplistic categories to make reality more predictable and managable.The problem with beauty contests, if there is one, is that it might reinforce stereotypes of women being primarily pretty things to look at.I also don't like the way it sets us spectators up as judges ('look at her, what is she doing at a beauty pageant' and similar thoughts one might have), it makes me feel uncomfortably 'body-fascist' (which I have a tendency to - which I think it would reinforce). Just some thoughts.

Dear Fred and 'new d**k on the block' Luke...You both appear to be fixated with men dressing as 'ladies'!Maybe you should vent these frustrations mutually - a visit to the Birdcage for some hints and then maybe a whizz around Debenhams to pick up some frocks, shoes and a bit of lippy?...Then back to Fred's for a lovely evening discussing the feeling of exhilaration you experience from giving vent to your pent up desires to be ....a woman!Either that, or do us all a favour and get back to strangling your turkeys whilst flicking through your dog eared copies of Razzle whilst cursing about why 'no birds like this will talk to me!'.That's all from me on this point folks...Bye bye now!

@JERRY THE CAT.What about Mr Universe? There are loads of male beauty contests just like there are female beauty contests. Women will never be equal in the boardroom til people like you manage to shift their attitudes. All of us are not the same, who cares if some people want to be in beauty contests.

Mr x and anonymous are obviously sat at home waiting for their "gay" webcams to start working so they can chortle at the size of each others tiny penis'sI dont blame you two for wanting to be beauty queens, I hear that your just born like that.

I'm with Fred on this one. I bet John and James spend hours in front of a full length mirror with thier willy tucked between thier legs and a tiara on, practicing their victory speach for Miss Manchester 2007.

I think Fred's comments prove why we can't let such things happen in the modern world. Is he from 1950? I'd like to shake him by the neck. Men might have pageants but they don't generally get the deal women still do - worldwide - and so it's not the same risk to put them up to be admired/ogled. It's not the actual act so much as what it promotes. There are consequences to anything taboo - you have to be sure you're doing something for more than just controversy's sake. Which is maybe something for Fred to think about, while he's having fun...

Fred, how was your relationship with your mother? Do you have a girlfriend? Do you have any good relationships with women, apart from your cleaner? If you need any help.. there are organisations that will be able to do this.

Last year the winner of Miss Manchester was apparently disqualified after a period and the runner up took her place. This girl lives near me and was dating my cousin, she has the personality of a wet mop and is extremely boring and unintelligent! true she is pretty and attractive, well until she opens her mouth. Recently she fell asleep whilst drunk at a party and wet her self. Hence she is now known locally as Pi$s Manchester! Not saying all ladies in the contest will be of the same calibre but makes you think.....

Considering that to have you picture in a "lads mag" you dont need to have a pretty face, just the right colour of fake tan and peroxide and big and bare enough boobs - I think that a contest which actually looks at a girls face, figure and posture is only a good thing to help celebrate real beauty.

Awww Fred...I love your comments. Very entertaining :)On the subject of equality (Ms Manchesters comment) can I just point out that there is in fact lots of male beauty pageants...Mr England and Mr World are both huge events. There's your chance Fred. I an loan you my plastic crown.

Yeah I do scrub up ok, otherwise I wouldn't have bothered entering. But that's the thing about beauty pageants... hair, make up, outfit and voila plain jane can become miss universe. You really think the girls in the lads mags wake up looking airbrushed? Oh and I love all my fans. According to you I need all the help I can get...hahahaha. Oh well you can#t please everyone...

Ahhhhhhhhhh lovely Linda.....I can assure you I have broken a few hearts in some of the bars in manchester, I bet you scrub up well too. Can I ask you a serious question?"wogan/parky type voice"What do you think of your huge gay following?

Fred, you're boring. Take your feelings of inadequacy over to The Sun website - they'll probably love you over there. Entering into a beauty contest doesn't degrade women. It's about personal choice. Maybe Lynda's just entered for a bit of fun eh, it's probably not her intended career path.

James, I dont think wanting to be a woman if your a man is funny at all, I watched a programme on it and I feel that some of the people are being exploited from an early age. I bet you had a special friend who showed you puppies and gave you sweets at an early age. didnt you?

Ha ha, "James" now is it now John?Why dont you cut to the chase and tell everyone you would have been happier if you were a woman?I bet its eating you up not being able to enter!Try that out for "choice"

John, John, John, Giving Lynda £25 for a massage in a car park does not mean you have met her "professionaly"Im sensing some agressive tendancies from you, Is it because your jealous they wont let you wear the plastic crown because you have a winki?I bet its your dream to wear a dress and pretend your a girl, just get it over with and have the op.All the best in the competition Lynda, I hope you win, I seriously do!

To be honest I have broken both types of hearts, but allsations dont count anonymous, thats illegal.And the only thing thats stopping me from entering the mr UK compettition is the current mr Hot buns rules that I cant enter any other comps until I get beat in the hot buns comp. simple as

I think that you all have lost your minds. We are talking about Miss Manchester, burberry and big hoop earings and "brandeeeeeeeeeeey and cooooooooooooooookeeee" for the winner, Its hardly miami beach is it?What beutiful women have come from Manchester apart from that bird off the boddies advert who shags des o connor?answer, none! they are all preggers by the age of 14!

Its obvious Mr x is a bit "will young" isnt it. There is nothing wrong at admiring the female form, so long as she is paid and does the ironing after. Mr x is by his own admission the type of guy who stands outside lapdancing bars waiting for the boys in their pin stripe suites to come out. perv!

Feminists were - and are - as much about equality as 'choice'. I do think your arguments are confused. Competitions like this feed into a degrading perception of women that people who aren't in lucky western situations like you suffer terribly from. Simlarly, the argument for poledancing being 'empowering' doesn't cut it with me. You might feel smart, but what are you promoting? Women have died to stop our gender being judged on physical appearance. Walk on in jeans and a jumper and make your speeches, or find a healthier way of boosting your ego.

Steady on John, Its a scientific fact that a womans brain is smaller than a mans. I bet your head is bigger than Lynda's for example. Its not me who makes the needles sharp, Im just a doctor!Besides, how can Lynda win anything with a mug like that, she's more les dennis than lucy pinder!

why dont you use all your energy into becoming a cleaner or a laundrette attendant if you want to maximise your little female brain?Standing on a catwalk saying "dont I look pretty" is hardly something to be proud off.If you are pretty, you could get into Glamour photography like lucy pinder or Jordan. At least then you would have a few quid, even if everyone did hate you?

Ah Fred!...Would appear that you are a wind up merchant!Having met Lynda as I mentioned in my previous rant, I can vouch for the fact that she has a far more beautiful'mug' than the pic in the article may portray, and as far as mugs go - check your own out pal... and may I recommend you drop it, smash it and brush th pieces up and stick 'em in the bin!Maybe you should get back to reading and slobbering over Ms. Pinder in Loaded or Nuts and give the public commentary up as a bad job?...good lad.Good luck again Lynda - and I make sure Gordo takes his inhaler with him for the final..don't want the old boy kicking it when you put the Tiara on!

Ignoring our resident wind-up merchant, I have to say I'm inclined to agree with Ms Manchester. In fact, if I knew who Ms Manchester was, I'd shake her hand. I think the fact that contests like this still exist shows we still value the genders in different ways. I've never been able to take the argument that poledancing is "empowering" seriously, either -- but I get laughed at if I mention that! Sometimes, when I see bunches of blokes in pin-stripe suits walking out of some girlie club or other guffawing, it makes me ashamed to be a bloke. But back to the contest -- I think it's all fairly harmless, it's not like it's a swimsuit competition or anything (is it?). Beauty needs to be celebrated and if this is the way people choose to celebrate it, then so be it...